Sunday Morning Cartoons (AKA Reviews: Justin's Voicework)
Just posting my latest Justin-reviews - we're getting close to the end now, don't worry - before I head off to totally non-awkwardly be the centre of attention and smile graciously and winningly at relatives while opening gifts at my baby shower today! It's a brunch do, wiith bagels and various types of gourmet schmear. At least it will be tasty!
Status Update
Found: Battle for Terra, Still Waiting
New purchases: Alpha and Omega, Alvin and the Chipmunks
On Order: Herbie - Fully Loaded, Accepted
This leaves only ONE major feature of Justin’s (except for some of the newer limited release stuff from film festivals like Lumpy or For a Good Time Call) that I haven’t been able to find: Hair High. So as usual, if anyone knows anything about anything. I call sharesies!
On the docket today: Justin’s Voicework
Justin loves voicework. And he has a pretty good voice for it too. Sort of youthful and scratchy, and definitely full of character - clearly a standout. He’s even done a bunch of animated TV shows, as you can see at the bottom of this post, and currently has a show running on the FX network called Unsupervised. :) *pimp over*
What’s interesting - to me anyway - about this little collection of films is that it illustrates a point I like to make often in discussing movies with friends. Yes, I watch cartoons. Admittedly there’s a hipster-irony factor there, but a lot of the time, yes, I actually enjoy them. That’s because there’s a difference between “kids’ movies” and *family films* which tend to have a bit more in the way of plot, and definitely more in the way of comedy and nuance than movies aimed strictly at kids.
(Aside: Not that it necessarily applies here, but I think this can also factor into why sometimes sequels are so disappointing, especially in this genre - the first movie has to gain the public’s attention, and the best way to get butts in the cinema seats for a new franchise is probably to make a film the parents actually want to take their kids to. The second time around, the kids have already spent so much time in front of the DVD falling in love with their hero characters that the mere appearance of the familiar cartoon face sends them into a frenzy of OMGNEEDNEEDNEEDMOMPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE. So heck, the moguls are free to dust off one of the scripts they originally rejected for good reason, or hire their rookie writer of a nephew for peanuts, or whatever it is they do when they plan on spending an entire production working on their golf swing instead of the editing.) *random rant over*
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin
Who should watch: Kids, people who have kids, people who don’t have kids/ARE just big kids. Basically the original of this series is good fun for the whole family. Dave Seville, struggling musician, is ‘adopted’ by three young talking (and singing) chipmunks - voiced by Justin, Matthew Grey Gubler, and Jesse McCartney - looking for a place to call home and…maybe someone to call ‘Dad’, or okay they’ll settle for just “Dave” (Jason Lee). David Cross also stars as their record label agent, Ian, who inevitably takes on the villain role, putting the “boys” on a grueling tour schedule, making all their artistic decisions without their permission, and eventually locking them in a *gasp* cage (ok it’s a cat carrier) and setting his security team against any rescue plan of Dave’s, who he’s most evilly convinced the boys has no interest in seeing them ever again. Personally, I quite like this movie and have actually purchased it. And in the interest of getting even more personal (as if anyone was wondering) yes, I do have a certain amount of nostalgia for the old cartoon - circa about 1985 I guess (apparently Alvin, Simon and Theodore have been around in one form or another since the 1950s), but I don’t think that factored in so much, so if you weren’t into that/have never seen it, you’re still good to go. This is totally a reboot, it’s CGI not ‘cartoon’ animation, and I did enjoy that the little guys are really depicted as talking animals, that scamper and twitch their tails etc, and aren’t simply anthropomorphized into being unrecognizable as anything but (admittedly cute) odd looking children (something that always creeped me out as a child about the original Chipettes. They look like humans but they date chipmunks. Why? WHY?) The only real nod (aside from Dave’s crappy red convertible <3, and a lot of yelling of ‘ALLLLLLLLLLLVINNNNNNNNNNN!!!’) to the original/many past iterations of these characters is yes, they do perform the “Chipmunks Song” - you know, the Christmas one about the hoola hoop.
(as well as many young crowd-pleasing hiphop and funk numbers, and a couple of classics like “Only You” and “Funkytown” heh)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Who should watch: Probably just kids. I don’t have any particular complaints about this one, but it’s your typical sequel. Jason Lee apparently couldn’t be available or something so they get around this by having Dave hospitalized in a (totally Alvin-related) accident early on - yes, cue the allegedly hilarious full body cast and traction gags - and he is replaced by a young cousin of his, Toby, who has a penchant for video games, wears a lot of nerdy tshirts, and is self-reportedly ‘terminally shy’ although doesn’t appear awkward (or endearing…not even apparently to the boys) in any way really (severina2001 asserts that the role would have been better played by Justin himself…I can’t really disagree). The premise is Toby babysits the boys, who have been told by Dave that since he wants them to have a ‘normal’ life (normal for kids who are not rockstars, not normal for a chipmunk) that they have to go to school. It’s highschool, which I’m not sure makes sense on many levels, not the least of which are wondering how old the boys are in human years, or where a trio of singing chipmunks learned to read if they’d never been to school previously. But I digress. When they get to school they face challenges like bullies, popularity issues (Simon is a nerd, Alvin makes the football team - yes really) and of course - girls. Meet the Chipettes, voiced by Anna Faris, Amy Poehler, and Christina Applegate. Originally, the Chipettes form a rivalry with the Chimpunks, beating them in a sing-off to represent the school, which is in danger of losing its arts program, at a local - what else? - talent competition with an art-program-saving cheque as the prize. But the girls inevitably fall afoul of Ian, who plays nice at first again and then again *gasp* locks them in a cage. Can the six rodents overcome their differences and band together against the evil record corporation to save their beloved (actually I think they all sort of hate it) school? I know. The suspense is KILLING you.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Who should watch: I think this one is actually an improvement on the last. It did gangbusters at the box office, and my only big criticism of it would be that maybe it’s too zeitgeisty and time-sensitive to stay enjoyable for long. They pack a LOT of music into this one, and not just as sung by the six harmonizing forest creatures (who seem to have inexplicably lost their ability to forage for food or live in trees while staying at Dave’s house), there are also overlaid pop tunes including such uber-current pop smashes as “Hello”, and if I remember correctly, more than one number by Lady Gaga. (Yep, you saw the commercial, they also do “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.) They also manage to riff substantially off Castaway, and quote several internet memes including Double Rainbow Oh My God and Honeybadger Don’t Care (as inappropriate as those items might be for the age group of the film’s intended audience). But plotwise, this one’s pretty straightforward. The entire cast, including the girls, is back and this time they’re headed for a family vacation aboard a cruise ship - that is until a (also totally Alvin-related) accident causes the kids to become marooned on a tropical island that seems deserted…at first. To top it off, Simon gets a spider bite containing a neruo-toxin that makes him believe he’s really a fun-loving French dude with thrill-seeking issues and some definitely relaxed inhibitions when it comes to the ladies (most notably Jeanette), and they’re stuck with Alvin to take on the role of the ‘responsible one’. Can Dave (and oddly enough, Ian) rescue the glorified Rat-Pack (see what I did there?) before they get themselves into trouble they can’t get out of?? All this suspense, I just…I’m SORRY alright? It’s a high-stakes thrill ride of a series, whatcha gonna do? ;)
Justin’s Role:
Justin voices Alvin, the fun-loving, attention seeking, trouble-making middle child (go figure) and self-proclaimed ‘awesomest one’ of the three chipmunks. As such, Justin gets most of the best lines in all three films, and if you do watch these, keep your ears perked for quotes from Justin’s other films including Die Hard and Dodgeball. My favourite part of this role is that even when sped up x3, Justin’s voice is still totally recognizable not only in his signature smartassed cadence and delivery style, but you can still hear that almost teenagery catch of his. :) Heh.
And no (as if anyone was wondering) Justin isn’t responsible for any of the - actually quite impressive - singing.
Alpha and Omega (2010)
Humphrey
Who should watch: Again probably mostly kids. A cartoon-animated sort of Lion King style story, about familial animal pack/pride law, romance and tradition, and the responsibilities of ‘royalty’/leadership and the ties to the land they inhabit - but set for some reason in the Canadian Wilderness and so lacking the majestic African setting that, frankly, made the movie. Humphrey and Kate are two young wolves at opposite ends of their pack's social order, who are thrown together into a foreign land and need each other to return home - but then love complicates everything. Actually quite a few well known names in this one: Danny Glover, Hayden Panettiere, Christina Ricci and Dennis Hopper.
Justin’s Role: Justin reports basing this performance on his own dog, Moose. I have no idea how one bases a character, much less one that exists only in voice, on a dog …which doesn’t talk. But Moose is adorable so I will take his word for it. (Humphrey pretty much sounds like Justin always does….a fact which ironically enough seems to apply to all of Justin’s voicework - at least in feature films - whereas his silly voice talents tend to crop up in his onscreen cameos. Go fig.) This is the male lead role - good show, Justin!
Bonus note: There’s singing in this one too. Well. “Howling”. And either they did a *super* job of finding a singer who sounds just like Justin, or he *was* responsible this time around (I had half a mind to ask him when I met him this month, but that probably would have been even more weird). And what makes this note notable is, that in contrast to his musical efforts in Accepted or The Conspirator, Justin sounds GOOD. Real good. But then I think his voice might have had a little digital ‘help’. :)
Planet 51 (2009)
Lem
Who should watch: Whole families, yay! And people who like cartoons (just me? Okay then). When American astronaut Chuck Baker (The Rock!) lands on Planet 51, he’s surprised to find he’s not the first to discover it. It’s inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white picket fence world much like our early 50’s, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders...aliens like Chuck! When the War of the Worlds-obsessed locals confiscate his ship for investigation, Chuck is going to need a little help if he ever wants to get back home to Earth. His only contact so far though has been with Lem (Justin). Lem is a young local being who, at least at first, is more worried about the effect aiding and abetting an alien fugitive might have on his budding career and budding romance with the girl next door, Neera (Jessica Biel) - or the general lack of ‘budding’ on both counts - than with helping this stranger (and Chuck is pretty strange) get off this planet ‘full of sea monkeys dancin’ to the oldies’. Sean-William-Scott also stars as Lem’s eccentric comic book store owning best friend, Skiff, as well as John Cleese and Gary Oldman.
Justin’s Role: Lem is the lead role, perhaps sharing top billing with Chuck in sort of an unlikely friendship/buddy-film sort of way, but despite Chuck’s conviction that he’s got “the right stuff” Lem unsurprisingly turns out to be the real hero, and the romantic subplot - and all of the subplot really - focuses on him. I think, being a little green Flubber-lookin’ dude aside, Justin had it relatively easy with Lem, in that the character isn’t all that different from himself. Lem is a sarcastic and self-deprecating young adult concerned with the things young people worry about when building their futures, and I think Justin slipped pretty darn naturally into the role. He sounds pretty much like himself and gets quite a few chances to use that dry, sardonic wit of his. :)
Battle for Terra (2007)
Senn
Who should watch: More aliens. And probably more appropriate for kids again. I found the plot a little diffuse with a lot of things that seemed like loose ends, but there are a lot of good messages in Battle for Terra: the “Terrians”, as the humans who stumble across their planet in search of a new one after destroying three of their own call them, are a peace-loving race who celebrate one-ness with nature (and kind of look like a cross between ET and a goldfish). As the movie progresses we find out they have learned these ways because they once almost destroyed themselves with environmental disrespect and with war. A lesson humans have yet to learn - as evidenced by their plan to take over Terra (they’ve already done away with Earth, Venus, and Mars). The Terrians haven’t forgotten their old ways though, and reluctantly prepare to defend themselves. Once again, love (although it could just be friendship) complicates things, when one of their best pilots, a young female named Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) saves the life of a human named Jim (Luke Wilson) in the hopes that he can help her save her father who has been captured. David Cross, Danny Glover (again), Amanda Peet, Danny Trejo, Dennis Quaid, Rosanna Arquette, Brian Cox, Chris Evans (!), James Garner and MARK HAMILL also star.
Justin’s Role: Justin plays Senn, Mala’s best friend (or maybe it’s a romantic interest). Senn is a foil to the headstrong, tradition-balking Mala - timid and rule-conscious and probably existing to demonstrate the average Terrian disposition. It’s not a big role, but certainly not the smallest on the all-star list above either (although Mr S did point out he didn’t make the opening credits, but now I get to point out neither did MARK HAMILL). :D
Justin’s Filmography
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Alvin (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
Ten Year (2011)
Marty
Status: viewed, review pending
Alpha and Omega (2010)
Humphrey (voice)
Status: I own this, reviewed above
The Conspirator (2010)
Nicholas Baker
Status: viewed, review pending
Going the Distance (2010)
Garrett
Status: I own this, reviewed here
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Alvin (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
Taking Chances (2009)
Chase Revere
Status: Reviewed here
Old Dogs (2009)
Troop Leader Adam (cameo, uncredited)
Status: Reviewed here
Planet 51 (2009)
Lem (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
After.Life (2009)
Paul Coleman
Status: I own this, Reviewed here
Youth in Revolt (2009)
Paul Saunders
Status: Reviewed here
Funny People (2009)
Re-Do Guy (cameo)
Status: Reviewed here
Serious Moonlight (2009)
Todd
Status: Reviewed here
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Clay Dalton
Status: Reviewed here
Still Waiting... (2009)
Dean (uncredited)
Status: in the viewing queue
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Alex
Status: Reviewed here
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Brandon (cameo)
Status: Reviewed here
Just Add Water (2008)
Spoonie
Status: Reviewed here
Strange Wilderness (2008)
Junior
Status: Reviewed here
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
George Harrison (cameo, uncredited)
Status: Reviewed here
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin (voice)
Status: I own this, Reviewed above
Battle for Terra (2007)
Senn (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Matthew 'Matt' Farrell
Status: seriously? I own this, Reviewed here if you really want to hear it
Idiocracy (2006)
Doctor Lexus (cameo)
Status: Reviewed here
Accepted (2006)
Bartleby Gaines
Status: plan to purchase, Reviewed here
The Break-Up (2006)
Christopher
Status: Reviewed here
Dreamland (2006)
Mookie
Status: Reviewed here
The Sasquatch (Dumpling) Gang (2006)
Zerk
Status: Reviewed here
Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)
Kevin
Status:plan to purchase, Reviewed here
Waiting... (2005)
Dean
Status: viewed, review pending
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Justin
Status: plan to purchase, Reviewed here
Hair High (2004)
Dwayne (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Raising Genius (2004)
Hal Nestor
Status: viewed, review pending
Jeepers Creepers II (2003)
Darry Jenner (cameo, silent)
Status: Reviewed here
Crossroads (2002)
Henry
Status: Reviewed here
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Darry Jenner
Status: Reviewed here
Happy Campers (2001)
Donald
Status: viewed, review pending
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Brandon
Status: Reviewed here
TV
New Girl (2011)
Paul Gunslinger
Status: I watched all three of Justin’s eps, but he's scheduled to return 'later in the season' and I don't know the dates. If you know them holla if you can hook me up.
Martha Stewart's
Haunted House (2011)
Teenage Werewolf
Status: Not sure about this one. The description is ‘TV movie’, but from the article I found it looked like just a Halloween ep of Martha’s show. Still, holla if you can hook me up
Saturday Night Live (2009)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
King of the Hill (2006-2007)
Adam / Cashier / Kid #1 / …
- Grand Theft Arlen (2007) … Student teacher (voice)
- The Texas Panhandler (2006) … Adam/Kid #1 (voice)
- 24 Hour Propane People (2006) … Cashier (voice) / Troy (voice)
Status: no luck finding these, although they sound very minor. Still, holla if you can hook me up
That '70s Show (2006)
Andrew Davis
- Love of My Life (2006) … Andrew Davis
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Campus Ladies (2006)
Connor
- Fraternity Row (2006) … Connor
Status: no luck finding this one (or ever hearing of it before), holla if you can hook me up
Ed (2000-2004)
Status: in the viewing queue
Shorts/Videos
Free Hugs (short) (2011)
Status: this may not be released yet, but holla if you can hook me up
That Is All (2011) (short with John Hodgman)
Himself
See for yourself!
Beyond All Boundaries (short) (2009)
Corp. James R. Garrett (voice) / Sgt. John H. Morris (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Fraternity School Shopping (video short) (2008)
Herbert
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Robin's Big Date (short) (2005)
Robin
See for yourself!
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (video) (2004)
Chris Harken
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
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Off to put on my maternity dress and hope it's magically some sort of cut that flatters distended 'cankles'.
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Status Update
Found: Battle for Terra, Still Waiting
New purchases: Alpha and Omega, Alvin and the Chipmunks
On Order: Herbie - Fully Loaded, Accepted
This leaves only ONE major feature of Justin’s (except for some of the newer limited release stuff from film festivals like Lumpy or For a Good Time Call) that I haven’t been able to find: Hair High. So as usual, if anyone knows anything about anything. I call sharesies!
On the docket today: Justin’s Voicework
Justin loves voicework. And he has a pretty good voice for it too. Sort of youthful and scratchy, and definitely full of character - clearly a standout. He’s even done a bunch of animated TV shows, as you can see at the bottom of this post, and currently has a show running on the FX network called Unsupervised. :) *pimp over*
What’s interesting - to me anyway - about this little collection of films is that it illustrates a point I like to make often in discussing movies with friends. Yes, I watch cartoons. Admittedly there’s a hipster-irony factor there, but a lot of the time, yes, I actually enjoy them. That’s because there’s a difference between “kids’ movies” and *family films* which tend to have a bit more in the way of plot, and definitely more in the way of comedy and nuance than movies aimed strictly at kids.
(Aside: Not that it necessarily applies here, but I think this can also factor into why sometimes sequels are so disappointing, especially in this genre - the first movie has to gain the public’s attention, and the best way to get butts in the cinema seats for a new franchise is probably to make a film the parents actually want to take their kids to. The second time around, the kids have already spent so much time in front of the DVD falling in love with their hero characters that the mere appearance of the familiar cartoon face sends them into a frenzy of OMGNEEDNEEDNEEDMOMPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE. So heck, the moguls are free to dust off one of the scripts they originally rejected for good reason, or hire their rookie writer of a nephew for peanuts, or whatever it is they do when they plan on spending an entire production working on their golf swing instead of the editing.) *random rant over*
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin
Who should watch: Kids, people who have kids, people who don’t have kids/ARE just big kids. Basically the original of this series is good fun for the whole family. Dave Seville, struggling musician, is ‘adopted’ by three young talking (and singing) chipmunks - voiced by Justin, Matthew Grey Gubler, and Jesse McCartney - looking for a place to call home and…maybe someone to call ‘Dad’, or okay they’ll settle for just “Dave” (Jason Lee). David Cross also stars as their record label agent, Ian, who inevitably takes on the villain role, putting the “boys” on a grueling tour schedule, making all their artistic decisions without their permission, and eventually locking them in a *gasp* cage (ok it’s a cat carrier) and setting his security team against any rescue plan of Dave’s, who he’s most evilly convinced the boys has no interest in seeing them ever again. Personally, I quite like this movie and have actually purchased it. And in the interest of getting even more personal (as if anyone was wondering) yes, I do have a certain amount of nostalgia for the old cartoon - circa about 1985 I guess (apparently Alvin, Simon and Theodore have been around in one form or another since the 1950s), but I don’t think that factored in so much, so if you weren’t into that/have never seen it, you’re still good to go. This is totally a reboot, it’s CGI not ‘cartoon’ animation, and I did enjoy that the little guys are really depicted as talking animals, that scamper and twitch their tails etc, and aren’t simply anthropomorphized into being unrecognizable as anything but (admittedly cute) odd looking children (something that always creeped me out as a child about the original Chipettes. They look like humans but they date chipmunks. Why? WHY?) The only real nod (aside from Dave’s crappy red convertible <3, and a lot of yelling of ‘ALLLLLLLLLLLVINNNNNNNNNNN!!!’) to the original/many past iterations of these characters is yes, they do perform the “Chipmunks Song” - you know, the Christmas one about the hoola hoop.
(as well as many young crowd-pleasing hiphop and funk numbers, and a couple of classics like “Only You” and “Funkytown” heh)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Who should watch: Probably just kids. I don’t have any particular complaints about this one, but it’s your typical sequel. Jason Lee apparently couldn’t be available or something so they get around this by having Dave hospitalized in a (totally Alvin-related) accident early on - yes, cue the allegedly hilarious full body cast and traction gags - and he is replaced by a young cousin of his, Toby, who has a penchant for video games, wears a lot of nerdy tshirts, and is self-reportedly ‘terminally shy’ although doesn’t appear awkward (or endearing…not even apparently to the boys) in any way really (severina2001 asserts that the role would have been better played by Justin himself…I can’t really disagree). The premise is Toby babysits the boys, who have been told by Dave that since he wants them to have a ‘normal’ life (normal for kids who are not rockstars, not normal for a chipmunk) that they have to go to school. It’s highschool, which I’m not sure makes sense on many levels, not the least of which are wondering how old the boys are in human years, or where a trio of singing chipmunks learned to read if they’d never been to school previously. But I digress. When they get to school they face challenges like bullies, popularity issues (Simon is a nerd, Alvin makes the football team - yes really) and of course - girls. Meet the Chipettes, voiced by Anna Faris, Amy Poehler, and Christina Applegate. Originally, the Chipettes form a rivalry with the Chimpunks, beating them in a sing-off to represent the school, which is in danger of losing its arts program, at a local - what else? - talent competition with an art-program-saving cheque as the prize. But the girls inevitably fall afoul of Ian, who plays nice at first again and then again *gasp* locks them in a cage. Can the six rodents overcome their differences and band together against the evil record corporation to save their beloved (actually I think they all sort of hate it) school? I know. The suspense is KILLING you.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Who should watch: I think this one is actually an improvement on the last. It did gangbusters at the box office, and my only big criticism of it would be that maybe it’s too zeitgeisty and time-sensitive to stay enjoyable for long. They pack a LOT of music into this one, and not just as sung by the six harmonizing forest creatures (who seem to have inexplicably lost their ability to forage for food or live in trees while staying at Dave’s house), there are also overlaid pop tunes including such uber-current pop smashes as “Hello”, and if I remember correctly, more than one number by Lady Gaga. (Yep, you saw the commercial, they also do “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.) They also manage to riff substantially off Castaway, and quote several internet memes including Double Rainbow Oh My God and Honeybadger Don’t Care (as inappropriate as those items might be for the age group of the film’s intended audience). But plotwise, this one’s pretty straightforward. The entire cast, including the girls, is back and this time they’re headed for a family vacation aboard a cruise ship - that is until a (also totally Alvin-related) accident causes the kids to become marooned on a tropical island that seems deserted…at first. To top it off, Simon gets a spider bite containing a neruo-toxin that makes him believe he’s really a fun-loving French dude with thrill-seeking issues and some definitely relaxed inhibitions when it comes to the ladies (most notably Jeanette), and they’re stuck with Alvin to take on the role of the ‘responsible one’. Can Dave (and oddly enough, Ian) rescue the glorified Rat-Pack (see what I did there?) before they get themselves into trouble they can’t get out of?? All this suspense, I just…I’m SORRY alright? It’s a high-stakes thrill ride of a series, whatcha gonna do? ;)
Justin’s Role:
Justin voices Alvin, the fun-loving, attention seeking, trouble-making middle child (go figure) and self-proclaimed ‘awesomest one’ of the three chipmunks. As such, Justin gets most of the best lines in all three films, and if you do watch these, keep your ears perked for quotes from Justin’s other films including Die Hard and Dodgeball. My favourite part of this role is that even when sped up x3, Justin’s voice is still totally recognizable not only in his signature smartassed cadence and delivery style, but you can still hear that almost teenagery catch of his. :) Heh.
And no (as if anyone was wondering) Justin isn’t responsible for any of the - actually quite impressive - singing.
Alpha and Omega (2010)
Humphrey
Who should watch: Again probably mostly kids. A cartoon-animated sort of Lion King style story, about familial animal pack/pride law, romance and tradition, and the responsibilities of ‘royalty’/leadership and the ties to the land they inhabit - but set for some reason in the Canadian Wilderness and so lacking the majestic African setting that, frankly, made the movie. Humphrey and Kate are two young wolves at opposite ends of their pack's social order, who are thrown together into a foreign land and need each other to return home - but then love complicates everything. Actually quite a few well known names in this one: Danny Glover, Hayden Panettiere, Christina Ricci and Dennis Hopper.
Justin’s Role: Justin reports basing this performance on his own dog, Moose. I have no idea how one bases a character, much less one that exists only in voice, on a dog …which doesn’t talk. But Moose is adorable so I will take his word for it. (Humphrey pretty much sounds like Justin always does….a fact which ironically enough seems to apply to all of Justin’s voicework - at least in feature films - whereas his silly voice talents tend to crop up in his onscreen cameos. Go fig.) This is the male lead role - good show, Justin!
Bonus note: There’s singing in this one too. Well. “Howling”. And either they did a *super* job of finding a singer who sounds just like Justin, or he *was* responsible this time around (I had half a mind to ask him when I met him this month, but that probably would have been even more weird). And what makes this note notable is, that in contrast to his musical efforts in Accepted or The Conspirator, Justin sounds GOOD. Real good. But then I think his voice might have had a little digital ‘help’. :)
Planet 51 (2009)
Lem
Who should watch: Whole families, yay! And people who like cartoons (just me? Okay then). When American astronaut Chuck Baker (The Rock!) lands on Planet 51, he’s surprised to find he’s not the first to discover it. It’s inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white picket fence world much like our early 50’s, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders...aliens like Chuck! When the War of the Worlds-obsessed locals confiscate his ship for investigation, Chuck is going to need a little help if he ever wants to get back home to Earth. His only contact so far though has been with Lem (Justin). Lem is a young local being who, at least at first, is more worried about the effect aiding and abetting an alien fugitive might have on his budding career and budding romance with the girl next door, Neera (Jessica Biel) - or the general lack of ‘budding’ on both counts - than with helping this stranger (and Chuck is pretty strange) get off this planet ‘full of sea monkeys dancin’ to the oldies’. Sean-William-Scott also stars as Lem’s eccentric comic book store owning best friend, Skiff, as well as John Cleese and Gary Oldman.
Justin’s Role: Lem is the lead role, perhaps sharing top billing with Chuck in sort of an unlikely friendship/buddy-film sort of way, but despite Chuck’s conviction that he’s got “the right stuff” Lem unsurprisingly turns out to be the real hero, and the romantic subplot - and all of the subplot really - focuses on him. I think, being a little green Flubber-lookin’ dude aside, Justin had it relatively easy with Lem, in that the character isn’t all that different from himself. Lem is a sarcastic and self-deprecating young adult concerned with the things young people worry about when building their futures, and I think Justin slipped pretty darn naturally into the role. He sounds pretty much like himself and gets quite a few chances to use that dry, sardonic wit of his. :)
Battle for Terra (2007)
Senn
Who should watch: More aliens. And probably more appropriate for kids again. I found the plot a little diffuse with a lot of things that seemed like loose ends, but there are a lot of good messages in Battle for Terra: the “Terrians”, as the humans who stumble across their planet in search of a new one after destroying three of their own call them, are a peace-loving race who celebrate one-ness with nature (and kind of look like a cross between ET and a goldfish). As the movie progresses we find out they have learned these ways because they once almost destroyed themselves with environmental disrespect and with war. A lesson humans have yet to learn - as evidenced by their plan to take over Terra (they’ve already done away with Earth, Venus, and Mars). The Terrians haven’t forgotten their old ways though, and reluctantly prepare to defend themselves. Once again, love (although it could just be friendship) complicates things, when one of their best pilots, a young female named Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) saves the life of a human named Jim (Luke Wilson) in the hopes that he can help her save her father who has been captured. David Cross, Danny Glover (again), Amanda Peet, Danny Trejo, Dennis Quaid, Rosanna Arquette, Brian Cox, Chris Evans (!), James Garner and MARK HAMILL also star.
Justin’s Role: Justin plays Senn, Mala’s best friend (or maybe it’s a romantic interest). Senn is a foil to the headstrong, tradition-balking Mala - timid and rule-conscious and probably existing to demonstrate the average Terrian disposition. It’s not a big role, but certainly not the smallest on the all-star list above either (although Mr S did point out he didn’t make the opening credits, but now I get to point out neither did MARK HAMILL). :D
Justin’s Filmography
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Alvin (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
Ten Year (2011)
Marty
Status: viewed, review pending
Alpha and Omega (2010)
Humphrey (voice)
Status: I own this, reviewed above
The Conspirator (2010)
Nicholas Baker
Status: viewed, review pending
Going the Distance (2010)
Garrett
Status: I own this, reviewed here
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Alvin (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
Taking Chances (2009)
Chase Revere
Status: Reviewed here
Old Dogs (2009)
Troop Leader Adam (cameo, uncredited)
Status: Reviewed here
Planet 51 (2009)
Lem (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
After.Life (2009)
Paul Coleman
Status: I own this, Reviewed here
Youth in Revolt (2009)
Paul Saunders
Status: Reviewed here
Funny People (2009)
Re-Do Guy (cameo)
Status: Reviewed here
Serious Moonlight (2009)
Todd
Status: Reviewed here
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Clay Dalton
Status: Reviewed here
Still Waiting... (2009)
Dean (uncredited)
Status: in the viewing queue
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Alex
Status: Reviewed here
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Brandon (cameo)
Status: Reviewed here
Just Add Water (2008)
Spoonie
Status: Reviewed here
Strange Wilderness (2008)
Junior
Status: Reviewed here
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
George Harrison (cameo, uncredited)
Status: Reviewed here
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin (voice)
Status: I own this, Reviewed above
Battle for Terra (2007)
Senn (voice)
Status: Reviewed above
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Matthew 'Matt' Farrell
Status: seriously? I own this, Reviewed here if you really want to hear it
Idiocracy (2006)
Doctor Lexus (cameo)
Status: Reviewed here
Accepted (2006)
Bartleby Gaines
Status: plan to purchase, Reviewed here
The Break-Up (2006)
Christopher
Status: Reviewed here
Dreamland (2006)
Mookie
Status: Reviewed here
The Sasquatch (Dumpling) Gang (2006)
Zerk
Status: Reviewed here
Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)
Kevin
Status:plan to purchase, Reviewed here
Waiting... (2005)
Dean
Status: viewed, review pending
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Justin
Status: plan to purchase, Reviewed here
Hair High (2004)
Dwayne (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Raising Genius (2004)
Hal Nestor
Status: viewed, review pending
Jeepers Creepers II (2003)
Darry Jenner (cameo, silent)
Status: Reviewed here
Crossroads (2002)
Henry
Status: Reviewed here
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Darry Jenner
Status: Reviewed here
Happy Campers (2001)
Donald
Status: viewed, review pending
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Brandon
Status: Reviewed here
TV
New Girl (2011)
Paul Gunslinger
Status: I watched all three of Justin’s eps, but he's scheduled to return 'later in the season' and I don't know the dates. If you know them holla if you can hook me up.
Martha Stewart's
Haunted House (2011)
Teenage Werewolf
Status: Not sure about this one. The description is ‘TV movie’, but from the article I found it looked like just a Halloween ep of Martha’s show. Still, holla if you can hook me up
Saturday Night Live (2009)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
King of the Hill (2006-2007)
Adam / Cashier / Kid #1 / …
- Grand Theft Arlen (2007) … Student teacher (voice)
- The Texas Panhandler (2006) … Adam/Kid #1 (voice)
- 24 Hour Propane People (2006) … Cashier (voice) / Troy (voice)
Status: no luck finding these, although they sound very minor. Still, holla if you can hook me up
That '70s Show (2006)
Andrew Davis
- Love of My Life (2006) … Andrew Davis
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Campus Ladies (2006)
Connor
- Fraternity Row (2006) … Connor
Status: no luck finding this one (or ever hearing of it before), holla if you can hook me up
Ed (2000-2004)
Status: in the viewing queue
Shorts/Videos
Free Hugs (short) (2011)
Status: this may not be released yet, but holla if you can hook me up
That Is All (2011) (short with John Hodgman)
Himself
See for yourself!
Beyond All Boundaries (short) (2009)
Corp. James R. Garrett (voice) / Sgt. John H. Morris (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Fraternity School Shopping (video short) (2008)
Herbert
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Robin's Big Date (short) (2005)
Robin
See for yourself!
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (video) (2004)
Chris Harken
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
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Off to put on my maternity dress and hope it's magically some sort of cut that flatters distended 'cankles'.
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